Linear or rotary musical indicator

ABSTRACT

A musical indicator which is adjustable to give information concerning the chords and/or notes which are related to each other in a given manner in a selected key, includes an information-bearing member and a note-bearing member, movable relatively to each other, the note-bearing member having notes indicated thereon in such a sequence that each pair of adjacent notes has a musical interval of a perfect fifth, that is to say the musical distance between the first and fifth notes of a diatonic scale. The arrangement of notes in perfect fifths enables information to be provided on the information-bearing member in a relatively simple manner. It also enables a musical indicator to be provided with a set of interchangeable information-bearing members, each giving different information. For example, one information-bearing member may provide relatively simple information suitable for very young students, and subsequent information-bearing members in the set may provide successively more complex information for more advanced students.

United States Patent [151 3,635,122 [451 Jan. 18,1972

Perrault [541 LINEAR 0R ROTARY MUSICAL INDICATOR [72] Inventor: Michel B. Perrault, 4200 Sherbrooke West Apt. 20, Montreal 215, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Septl5, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 857,904

[30] Foreign Application Priority Date Aug. 8, 1969 Canada ..59,045

[52] US. Cl. 84/477 R [51] Int. Cl. ..G09b 15/02 [58] Field of Search ..84/470, 471, 473, 474, 477

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,832,252 4/1958 Gabriel ..84/473 X 428,806 5/1890 Donovan ..84/474 675,345 5/1901 Bauer ....84/474 X 964,320 7/1910 Scott .84/471 UX 2,332,842 10/1943 Champion ..84/473 2,542,235 2/1951 Clopton ....84/474 3,472,! 17 10/1969 Iverson ct al. ..84/474 3,481,241 12/ 1 969 Gaillard ..84/470 X Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT A musical indicator which is adjustable to give information concerning the chords and/or notes which are related to each other in a given manner in a selected key, includes an information-bearing member and a note-bearing member, movable relatively to each other, the note-bearing member having notes indicated thereon in such a sequence that each pair of adjacent notes has a musical interval of a perfect fifth, that is to say the musical distance between the first and fifth notes of a diatonic scale. The arrangement of notes in perfect fifths enables information to be provided on the information-bearing member in a relatively simple manner. It also enables a musical indicator to be provided with a set of interchangeable information-bearing members, each giving different information. For example, one information-bearing member may provide relatively simple information suitable for very young students, and subsequent information-bearing members in the set may provide successively more complex information for more advanced students.

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SHEET 110F 11 LINEAR OR ROTARY MUSICAL INDICATOR This invention relates to musical indicators which are adjustable to give desired information concerning the structure of the musical language, such as the chords and/or notes which are related to each other in a given manner in a selected key.

A disadvantage of known musical indicators is that they are not readily able to provide information, for different keys, of both simple and more complex relationships between notes and/or chords associated with a selected key. Known indicators are not capable of giving sufficient information regarding the more complex relationships, and are unduly mechanically complicated and thus difficult to use in practice. Most known musical indicators set out the notes in chromatic or diatonic order. Neither of these orders is particularly useful in understanding musical harmony, and this is one reason why known indicators have not been particularly successful.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a musical indicator which is useful for teaching musical harmony to students of a wide range of ages and at different levels of knowledge of musical theory.

According to the invention, a musical indicator includes an information-bearing member and a note-bearing member, movable relatively to each other, the note-bearing member having notes indicated thereon in such a sequence that each pair of adjacent notes has a musical interval of a perfect fifth, that is to say the musical distance between the first and fifth notes of a diatonic scale.

The arrangement of notes in perfect fifths enables information to be provided on the information-bearing member in a relatively simple manner. It also enables a musical indicator to be provided with a set of interchangeable information-bearing members, each giving different information. For example, one information-bearing member may provide relatively simple in formation suitable for very young students, and subsequent information-bearing members in the set may provide successive ly more complex information for more advanced students.

The note-bearing member may have the notes indicated thereon in a linear manner, with the information-bearing member having a window, such that any desired seven adjacent notes can be arranged to be visible in the window. The information-bearing member will then give information regarding the relationship between the notes visible in the window and between chords formed by these notes. By simply moving the note-bearing member to show different groups of seven notes in the window, the information given on the information-bearing member can easily be applied to any desired key.

Alternatively, the note-bearing member may be in the form of a disc with the notes arcuatcly arranged thereon, the disc being rotatable relative to the information-bearing member. The seven natural notes may be equally spaced around the periphery of the disc, which may have an aperture adjacent each note, a second rotatable disc beneath the note-bearing disc having sharp and flat symbols thereon in such a position that the two discs can be relatively rotated to indicate a selected key with sharp or flat symbols appearing in the windows of the first disc adjacent the appropriate note or notes.

Since the distance between the seven natural notes on the note-bearing disc corresponds to one-seventh of its circumference, the sharp and fiat infonnation disc will be effectively divided into a number of segments, this number being divisible by 7, say 7x, with sharp or flat symbols being located in appropriate segments. For convenience, the windows of alternate notes on the note-bearing disc may be located on two circles of diii'erent diameter, and the sharp and flat symbols correspondingly located on two circles of different diameter on the sharp and flat symbol disc. The sharp and fiat symbol disc may conveniently be divided into 56 segments i.e., x=8.

Means may be provided to enable the two discs to be relatively rotated by the correct amount when changing from one key to another. To show the correct key indication, the sharp and flat indicator disc must be rotated relative to the notebearing disc by 360l7x. To then correctly align the two discs with the information-bearing member, the two discs must both be rotated by 360l7. This may be achieved by providing notches of appropriate circumferential extent in the two discs and in a holder containing the discs, such that the indicator can be changed from one key to another by placing a finger in notches in the two discs, which appear adjacent one end of a larger notch in the holder, and moving the notches in the discs to the other end of the larger notch in the holder.

The rotary indicator may be arranged to give further information by providing appropriately positioned windows in the information-bearing member and the note-bearing disc with notes being indicated at appropriate positions on the sharp and flat indicator.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a musical indicator according to one embodiment, in which the note-bearing member is linearly movable in the holder, the holder having an information-bearing member thereon,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the note-bearing member detached from the carrier,

FIGS. 3 to 10 are plan views of other information-bearing members for use with the indicator shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 11 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a musical indicator according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 12 is a similar view of the note-bearing member of the indicator of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a musical indicator according to a third embodiment, having a note-bearing disc and a sharp and flat indicator disc rotatable relative to the holder, the holder having an information-bearing member thereon,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the note-bearing disc,

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the sharp and flat indicator disc, and

FIGS. 16 to 19 are plan views of other information-bearing members for use with the indicator shown in FIG. 13.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 10, a musical indicator includes a holder in the form of a box 1 of rectangular cross section and having a rectangular window 2 in its top. A note-bearing member in the form of a strip 3 of paper or suitable synthetic plastic material is located in the box 1, and has its opposite end portions wound on two rotatable shafts 4, 5 extending transversely across the interior of the box 1 adjacent its opposite ends. By rotating the shafts 4, 5 appropriately, the strip 3 can be moved across the window to show different portions of the strip 3 therein.

The note-bearing strip 3 has printed thereon 21 notes, namely all the seven notes of the scale as naturals, sharps and flats, beginning with F fiat and then continuing in such a manner that the musical interval between each adjacent pair of notes on the strip 3 is a perfect fifth, thus F flat is followed by C flat, then G flat and so on through the flat notes, then the natural notes, and then the sharp notes, finishing with B sharp.

The size of the window 2 in the box I is such that seven adjacent notes on the strip 3 appear. The range in the window 2 as shown in FIG. 1 is A flat, E flat, B flat, F, C, G and D.

The top of the box 1 carries an information-bearing member 6 which fits on the top of the box and has an aperture corresponding to the window 2 in the box 1. The informationbearing member 6 has the abbreviation MIN (for minor) appearing adjacent the top of the window 2, and the abbreviation "MA.I (for major) appearing adjacent the bottom of the window 2. A centerline 7 passes through the middle note. The minor chords are structured between adjacent notes of the upper section, and the major chords are structured between adjacent notes of the lower section. On the left-hand side of the window 2, the information-bearing member 6 has an arrow 8 pointing to the second note from the bottom, which is the tonic of the major key, and an arrow 9 pointing to the third note from the top, which is the tonic of the relative minor key. On the right-hand side of the window 2, the information-bearing member 6 has a first rectangle l0 placed between the second and third notes from the top, and therefore represents the tonic minor chord, and a second rectangle 11 placed between the second and third notes from the bottom represents the tonic major chord. A rectangle 12 with a pointed end, on the right-hand side of the window 2, is placed between the center note and the third note from the top, and represents the dominant minor chord. The rectangle 12 points towards the rectangle i.e., points towards the tonic minor chord. A second pointed rectangle 13 is placed between the center note and the third. note from the bottom to represent the dominant major chord, and points towards the rectangle 11. A third pointed rectangle 14 is placed between the top note and the second note from the top to represent the completive or subdominant chord of the minor key, and points towards the rectangle 10. A fourth pointed rectangle 15 is placed between the bottom note and the second note from the bottom to represent the completive or subdominant chord of the major key, and points towards the rectangle 11. Thus the pointed rectangles l2, l4 and 13, 15 each point to the respective minor and major tonic chords as indicated by the rectangles l0 and 11 respectively.

In the setting shown in FIG. 1, the indicator gives all the above-mentioned information relating to the key of E flat major or C minor. Similar information about any of the'other keys can be obtained by adjusting the strip 3 in any one of three ways. Firstly, to position the tonic of the major key opposite arrow 8. Secondly, to position the tonic of the minor key opposite arrow 9, and thirdly to present the desired number of accidentals (sharps or flats) in the window 2. The various rectangles on the information-bearing member 6 and on those to be subsequently described may be colored in different ways so as to more clearly indicate the relationships which they represent. The box 1 may be illuminated from within if desired, in such a manner as to illuminate certain important information.

FIGS. 3 to 10 show other information-bearing members which may be substituted on the holder 1 for the informationbearing member 6 shown in FIG. 1. For ease of explanation, notes are shown in the windows of the members 6. The information-bearing member 6a shown in FIG. 3 indicates the positions of the two minor seconds, or their complements, the major sevenths. A first line 16 on the information-bearing member 60 links the second note from the top and the bottom note, and a second line 17 links the top note and the second note from the bottom. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the line 16 links the notes F and E, and the second line 17 links the notes C and B. FIG. 4 shows an information-bearing member 6b which indicates the positions of the five major seconds, or their complements, the minor sevenths. On the left-hand side, a line 18 links the first, third, fifth and seventh notes from the top or from the bottom, and on the right-hand side, a line 19 links the second, fourth and sixth notes from the top or from the bottom. The symmetry of this arrangement from top to bottom is apparent. Therefore, three major seconds or minor sevenths are indicated by the line 18, and two major seconds or minor sevenths are indicated by the line 19.

In FIG. 5, the information-bearing member 60 indicates the positions of the four minor thirds, or their complements, the major sixths. On the left-hand side, a line 20 links the first, fourth and seventh notes. On the right-hand side, there are two lines 21, 22. Line 21 links the second and fifth notes from the top, and line 22 links the third and sixth notes from the top. Line 20 therefor indicates two minor thirds or major sixths, with lines 21 and 22 each indicating one similar interval. FIG. 6 shows an information-bearing member 6d which indicates the positions of the three major thirds, or their complements, minor sixths. On the left-hand side are two lines 23, 24, with line 23 linking the first and fifth notes, and line 24 linking the third and seventh notes. On the right-hand side, a line 25 indicates the second and sixth notes from the top or from the bottom. Each line 23, 24, 25 therefore indicates one major third or minor sixth.

FIG. 7 shows an information-bearing member 6e indicating the positions of the six perfect fourths, or their complements, the perfect fifths, and also the position of the augmented fourth or diminished fifth. On the left-hand side, a line 26 links all seven notes in the window to indicate the perfect fourths or perfect fifths. 0n the righthand side, a line 27 links the first and seventh notes from the top or from the bottom to indicate the augmented fourth or the diminished fifth.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show information-bearing members 6}", 6g and 6h respectively which indicate more complex relationships pertaining to a selected key. On the information-bearing member 6f in FIG. 8, three pointed rectangles 28, 29, 30 on the right-hand side are placed respectively between the first note and the second, the second note and the third, and the third note and the center note. These three pointed rectangles 28, 29, 30 represent the three minor chords. A further pointed rectangle 31 is placed between the center note and the fifth note from the top, and this represents the major dominant chord. A rectangle 32 is placed between the fifth and sixth notes from the top to represent the major tonic chord of rest. The pointed rectangles 28, 29, 30 and 31 and the rectangle 32 respectively indicate the three minor chords as antecedents of the major dominant chord before it cadences to the major tonic chord of rest, with the points of the rectangle 28, 29, 30 and 31 indicating this sequence. A pointed rectangle 33 is placed between the bottom note and the adjacent note to represent the completive or subdominant chord. A doublepointed rectangle 34 placed to the right of the rectangle 32 indicates the tonic as a chord of motion. All the progressions take place in the direction indicated by the pointed rectangles, the pointed rectangles 28, 29, 30, 33 and 34 representing weak harmonic progressions, and the pointed rectangle 31 representing the strong dominant progression. All this information is therefore indicated on the right-hand side of the information-bearing member 6f.

0n the left-hand side, three arrowed link lines 35, 36, 37 indicate the transformations of chords from one harmonic function to another. The link line 35 extends from between the bottom two notes to a position between the third and fourth notes from the top, the link line 36 extends from between the fifth and sixth notes to a position between the second and third notes, and the link line extends from a position between the fourth and fifth notes to between the first and second notes. Thus, working from the bottom of the window, the link lines 35, 36, 37 show respectively that the first chord may be transformed into the fourth, the second chord into the fifth, and the third chord into the sixth.

The information-bearing member 6g shown in FIG. 9 is similar and symmetrical to that shown in FIG. 8 in that it indicates the use of the three major chords as antecedents of the minor dominant chord. On the right-hand side, three pointed rectangles 38, 39, 40 extend respectively from the seventh note to the sixth note from the top, the sixth note to the fifth note, and the fifth note to the fourth note, to represent the three major chords. The minor dominant chord is indicated by a pointed rectangle 41 placed between the fourth note and the third note, and the minor tonic chord of rest is indicated by a rectangle 42 placed between the second and third notes. The pointed rectangles 38, 39, 40, 41, and the rectangle 42 successively indicate the three major chords as antecedents of the minor dominant chord before it cadences to the minor tonic chord of rest, with the points of the rectangles 38, 39, 40, 41 indicating this sequence. The completive" or subdominant chord is indicated by a pointed rectangle 43 placed between the first note and the second. The tonic as a chord of motion is indicated by a double-pointed rectangle 44 placed between the same two notes as the rectangle 42. All progressions take place in the direction indicated by the pointed rectangles, the rectangles 38, 39, 40, 43, 44 representing weak harmonic progressions, and the rectangle 41 representing the strong dominant progression.

On the left-hand side of the information-bearing member 6g, are three arrowed link lines 45 46, 47 which indicate the transformations of chords from one harmonic function to another. Link line 35 extends from a position between the first and second notes from the top to between the fourth and fifth notes, link line 46 extends from between the second and third notes to between the fifth and sixth, and link line 47 extends from between the third and fourth notes to between the sixth and seventh notes. Thus, working from the top of the window 2, the first chord may be .transformed into the fourth, the second into the fifth, and the third into the sixth.

FIG. shows an information-bearing member 6h which provides information required for the chromaticization of foreign notes i.e., those that are not part of the chord. On the left-hand side, starting from the top of the window 2, two downwardly pointing arrows 48 are placed alongside the first and second notes respectively, three downwardly pointing arrows 49 are placed alongside the third, fourth and fifth notes respectively, and two downwardly pointing arrows 50 are placed alongside the sixth and seventh notes respectively. Similarly, on the right-hand side of the window 2, and working from the bottom of the window 2, two upwardly pointing arrows 51 are placed alongside the seventh and sixth notes from the top respectively, three upwardly pointing arrows 52 are placed alongside the fifth, fourth and third notes from the top respectively, and two upwardly pointing arrows 53 are placed alongside the second and first notes respectively. The arrows on the right-hand side of the window relate to inferior (ascending) appogiaturas in the diatonic major mode (where all superior appogiaturas remain diatonic), and the arrows on the left-hand side relate to superior (descending) appogiaturas in the diatonic minor mode (where all inferior appogiaturas remain diatonic). The two pairs of arrows 48 and 51 (in one color) indicate notes which must be chromaticized when used as appogiaturas, the two sets of three arrows 49 and 52 (in a second color) indicate notes which may be chromaticized (or left diatonic) when used as appogiaturas, and the two pairs of arrows 50 and 53 (in a third color) indicate notes which are already a semitone from their resolution and cannot be chromaticized. All the previously described information-bearing members are preferably colored in suitable ways so as to clearly indicate the information thereon.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an embodiment in which a musical indicator has a note-bearing member 54 in the form of a rigid strip, with the notes appearing in sequence of fifths longitu dinally along one face. An information-bearing member 55 is slidable along the note-bearing face of the member 54, and has a rectangular window 56 of such a size to show seven consecutive notes on the member 54. A flexible band 57 has its opposite ends connected to opposite ends of the informationbearing member 55 and extends longitudinally around the member 54, thereby retaining the member 57 in assembly with the note-bearing member 54. The member 54 has rollers 58 at its opposite ends over which the flexible band 57 passes to facilitate relative movement between the information-bearing member 55 and the band 57 on the one hand and the notebearing member 54 on the other hand.

The information-bearing member 55 maybe similar to any of those shown in FIGS. 1 or 3-10, and the indicator is operated by sliding the information-bearing member 55 to and fro along the note-bearing member 54 to position any desired seven adjacent notes in the window 56.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 to 19. In this embodiment, a rotary musical indicator includes a holder 101 in the form of a square envelope open at one side 102 and having a circular aperture 103 in its upper face. The open side 102 has a notch 104 which extends for a distance corresponding to ten fifty-sixths of the circumference of the aperture 103. The holder 101 contains two circular discs 105, 106 of the same diameter which is greater than that of the aperture 103 but just slightly less than the length of a side of the holder 101, such that the discs 105, 106 project into the notch 104. A pin 101a passes through the center of the discs 105, 106 and the rear face of the holder 101 to hold the discs in the holder, such that the discs can be rotated relative to each other and to the holder 101. The upper face of the holder 101 also has two notches 103a, 1031; which extend radially outwardly from the periphery of the aperture 103.

The upper disc 105 is a note-bearing disc, and the seven natural notes are indicated on the disc 105 at equally angularly spaced positions, the notes being in such an order that the musical interval from one note to the next is a perfect fifth. Hence, the order is F, C, G, D, A, E, and B. Starting with the first note, each alternate note is located on a circle with a diameter just lessthan the diameter of the aperture 103, and thus F, G, A, and B are located on this circle. The remaining three notes C, D, and E are located on a circle of smaller diameter. The note-bearing disc 105 has an aperture 107 adjacent each note on the same circle as the note, and each aperture 107 extends along one fifty-sixth of the circumference of the circle on which it lies.

The disc 105 (FIG. 14) has seven equally angularly spaced notches 108 on its periphery, each notch extending for two fifty-sixths of the circumference of the disc. In the clockwise sense, each notch 108 finishes on a radial line from which an aperture 107 begins. The disc 105 also has seven equally angularly spaced windows 109 lying alternately on two circles of diameter greater than those of the aperture 103 in the holder 101, such that they can be aligned with the notches 103a, 1031: in the holder 101. Each window 109 extends for two fifty-sixths of the circumference of the circle on which it lies, and is spaced midway between a pair of notches 108.

The second disc 106 (FIG. 15) has sharp or flat symbols appearing in some of the 56 segments of a circle of a diameter equal to the diameter on which the C, D, and E windows 107 appear on disc 105. Similarly, sharp or flat symbols also appear in some of the 56 segments of a circle of a diameter equal to the diameter on which the F, G, A and B windows 107 appear on disc 105. The disc 106 has 12 notches 110 in its periphery,-each notch 110 extending for one fifty-sixth of the circumference of the disc. The notches 110 are arranged in pairs, the notches 110 in each pair being spaced by one fiftysixth of the circumference, and adjacent pairs being spaced by six fifty-sixths of the circumference in all cases except one, where the spacing is eight fifty-sixths.

The disc 106 also has various notes indicated at selected positions on two circles of diameters equal to the diameters of the circles on which the windows 109 in the other disc 105 lie, such that the notes can appear in the notches 103a, 103b when also aligned with a window 109.

To facilitate the initial adjustment of the indicator and to enable the operation of the indicator to be more easily explained, the holder 101 and the two discs 105, 106 have each been marked with a zero point 0. On the holder 101, the point 0 is halfway along the notch 104. On the note-bearing disc 105, the point 0 is halfway long the window 109 between the B and F windows 107. On the sharp and flat symbol disc 106, the point 0 is halfway along the eight fifty-sixths space between adjacent pairs of notches 110.

To assemble the indicator, the two discs 105, 106 are placed in the holder 101 with the disc 105 uppermost, and the pin 101a is passed through the centers of the discs 105, 106 and through the rear face of the holder 101 to secure the various parts together. The discs 105, 106 are then rotated until their points 0 are aligned with the point 0 on the holder 101 halfway along the notch 104. In the zero position, the indicator shows the key of C major or A minor with no sharp or flat symbols being visible in the windows 107. It will be noted that the tonic C appears between the 5 and 6 o'clock position in the window 103 in the holder 101. To change the setting to the key of F, the two discs 105, 106 are moved clockwise in the following manner. A finger is placed in the upper end of the notch 104 at which appear a notch 108 in the disc 105 and a notch 110 in the disc 106. The finger is then moved in the clockwise sense in the notch 104, with the results that the disc 106 is moved clockwise relatively to the disc 105 until the lower edge of the notch 110 becomes aligned with the lower edge of the notch 108. Continued clockwise movement of the finger then causes both discs 105, 106 to move simultaneously until the finger engages the lower edge notch 104. This procedure causes the disc to move initially relatively to the disc 105 by 360/56, and then causes subsequent movement of both discs by a further 360 8/56. The F window 107 will then be at the position previously occupied by the C window 107, and a flat symbol will appear in the B window 107. Thus the indicator shows the key of F major or D minor. Subsequent keys can be found by repeating the procedure described above, and this procedure can also be reversed by moving the discs in the anticlockwise direction. For example, to return from the key of F to the key of C, a finger is placed in the notches 108, 110 at the lower end of notch 104 and moved upwardly until it engages the upper edge of notch 104. In each case, for a given key, the appropriate sharp or flat symbols will appear in the note windows 107.

Before proceeding further with the description of the use of this indicator, the information-bearing member 111 shown in FIG. 13 will first be described. This information-bearing member 111 is detachably secured to the upper face of the holder 10! and has various indications adjacent the periphery of the aperture 103. A centerline 112 at the zero position on the right is also continued on the opposite side of the aperture 103. Information above this line concerns minor chords, and information below this line concerns major chords. For convenience in describing the information-bearing member 111, the notes will be referred to as the first, second, and seventh notes working clockwise from the point 0.

The information-bearing member 111 has a rectangle 112 between the second and third notes to indicate the major tonic chord, and has a further rectangle 113 between the fifth and sixth notes to indicate the minor tonic chord. A pointed rectangle 114 placed between the fourth and third notes indicates the normal dominant major chord, now behaving as a completive or subdominant chord, and points towards the rectangle 112, i.e., points towards the major tonic cord. A pointed rectangle 115 placed between the fourth and fifth notes indicates the normal dominant minor chord, similarly behaving as a completive or subdominant chord, and points towards the rectangle 113. A pointed rectangle 116 placed between the first and second notes, is interrupted by the notch 103b. This pointed rectangle 116 indicates the chromatic dominant of the major mode with the name of the chromatic third appearing in the notch 1113b. A pointed rectangle 117 placed between the seventh and sixth notes is interrupted by the notch 1030. The pointed rectangle 117 indicates the chromatic dominant of the minor mode again with the name of the chromatic third being seen through the notch 103a. A doublepointed rectangle 118 extending through the point 0 and placed between the first and seventh notes indicates the antedominant chord in both major and minor keys.

This indicator can be operated in the 13 principal keys (from six flats to six sharps). It is possible to modify the indicator to operate in keys, but this makes it somewhat more complicated. The division of the circumference of the various parts of the indicator into 56 has been found to be a convenient figure for showing the various information in a relatively simple manner. Other multiples of seven could be used, but 8X7 was found to provide a convenient number of segments (i.e., 56) to enable all the desired information to be conveniently located on the discs. Also, the sharp and flat symbols on the disc 106 could have been positioned on a single circle, but it was found more convenient to put the symbols on the circles of two diameters.

Further information-bearing members which are attachable to holder 101 will now be described.

FIG. 16 shows an information-bearing member 119 which represents the functioning of the circular progressions in the diatonic major mode. The tonic chord of rest is designated by a rectangle 120 placed between the second and third notes, and the dominant chord is designated by a pointed rectangle 121 placed between the fourth and third notes. Three pointed rectangles 122, 123, 124 are placed respectively between the seventh and sixth, sixth and fifth, and the fifth and fourth notes, and represent the three minor chords (antecedents of the dominant). A pointed rectangle 125 extends through the point 0 between the first and seventh notes, and represents the diminished chord; placed at the union of the highest and lowest notes of the tonality. A pointed rectangle 126 is placed between the second and first notes to represent the completive" or subdominant chord, and the tonic chord of motion which initiates the entire progression is indicated by a pointed rectangle 127 placed beside the rectangle 120 between the third and second notes.

FIG. 17 shows an information-bearing member 128 which represents the functioning of the circular" progressions in the diatonic minor mode. A rectangle 129 placed between the fifth and sixth notes represents the tonic chord of rest. A pointed rectangle 130 placed between the fourth and fifth notes indicates the dominant chord. Three pointed rectangles 131, 132, 133are placed respectively between the first and second, the second and third,and the third and fourth notes to indicate the three major chords (antecedents of the dominant). A pointed rectangle 134 extends through the point 0 between the seventh and first notes to represent the diminished chord; placed at the union of the highest and lowest notes of the tonality. A pointed rectangle 135 placed between the sixth and seventh notes indicates the completive chord, and the tonic chord of motion which initiates the entire progression is indicated by a pointed rectangle 136 placed alongside the rectangle 129 between the fifth and sixth notes.

The information-bearing member 137 shown in H0. 18 represents the functioning of the circular progressions that include both the chromatic minor and the diatonic major modes. Rectangles 138, 139 are placed respectively between the second and third notes, and between the fifth and sixth notes, to represent both tonic chords of rest. Pointed rectangles 140, 141 are placed respectively between the second and first notes, and between the fifth and fourth notes, to represent the completive" chords of both keys. A pointed rectangle 142 is placed between the fourth and third notes to indicate the dominant of the major mode (a diatonic dominant chord). A pointed rectangle 143 is placed between the seventh and sixth notes to indicate the dominant of the minor mode (a chromatic dominant chord). The pointed rectangle 143 is interrupted by a notch 143a corresponding in size and position to the notch 103a in the holder 101, and the name of the third of the chord (a chromatic note) appears in this notch. Pointed rectangle 144 extends through the point 0 between the first and seventh notes, and represents the antedominant of the minor mode. Pointed rectangle 145 extends alongside rectangle 139 between the sixth and fifth notes, and represents the tonic minor as a chord of motion. Pointed rectangle 146 extends alongside rectangle 138 between the third and second notes, and represents the tonic major as a chord of motion.

FIG. 19 shows information-bearing member 147 which represents the functioning of the circular progressions that include both the chromatic major and diatonic minor modes. Rectangles 148, 149 are placed respectively between the second and third notes, and the fifth and sixth notes, to indicate both tonic chords of rest. Pointed rectangles 150, 151 are placed respectively between the third and fourth notes, and the sixth and seventh notes, to indicate the completive" chord of both keys. A pointed rectangle 152 is placed between the fourth and fifth notes to indicate the dominant minor chord (a diatonic dominant chord). A pointed arrow 153 is placed between the first and second notes to indicate the dominant of the major mode (a chromatic dominant chord). The pointed rectangle 153 is interrupted by a notch 154 corresponding to the notch 1113b in the holder 101, and the name of the third of the chord (a chromatic note) is indicated in this notch 154. A pointed rectangle 155 extends through the point 0 between the seventh and first notes, and represents the antedominant of the major mode. A pointed rectangle 156 extends alongside the rectangle 148 between the second and third notes, and represents the major tonic as a chord of motion. A pointed rectangle 157 extends alongside the rectangle 149 between the fifth and sixth notes, and represents the minor tonic as a chord of motion.

As with the previous embodiments, the information-bearing members just described are preferably colored in suitable ways to clearly indicate the information thereon.

The musical indicator according to this invention is especially useful for the examination of structural musical operation, whereas the musical indicator which is the subject of my other application entitled Musical Interval Indicator" is especially useful for the examination of surface musical operation.

lclaim:

l. A musical indicator including an information-carrying member having musical information adjacent window means therein, and a note-bearing member rotatable relative to the information-bearing member and having musical notes indicated thereon so as to be operable to present in said window means any seven selected adjacent notes only from a series of musical notes arranged in the order of perfect fifths extending from the flat notes through the seven natural notes to the sharp notes, the note-bearing member including two superimposed relatively rotatable discs, the upper disc indicating the seven natural notes and having an aperture at each indication, and the lower disc carrying sharp and flat symbols and being rotatable relative to the upper disc to present said symbols in the apertures of the upper disc to indicate various keys, said information-carrying member carrying information indicating the relationship between at least two of the selected seven notes shown in said window means.

2. A musical indicator according to claim 1 wherein the seven natural notes are alternatively indicated on the upper disc on two circles of different diameter, and the symbols on the lower disc are similarly located on two circles equal in diameter to the circles of the upper disc.

3. A musical indicator according to claim 1 including means to ensure relative rotation of the two discs by the correct amount to change their indication from one key to another.

4. A musical indicator according to claim 3 wherein said key-changing means includes notches of predetermined arcuate exteut in the peripheries of the discs.

5. A musical indicator according to claim 4 including means to ensure rotation of the two discs relative to the informationcarrying member by the correct amount to change the indicator from one key setting to another.

6. A musical indicator according to claim 5 wherein said key-changing means includes a notch of predetermined arcuate extent in the information-carrying member, said notch being cooperable with the notches in the discs.

7. A musical indicator according to claim 6 wherein the notch in the information-bearing member is equivalent to ten fifty-sixths of the circumference of the window, the upper disc has seven equally angularly spaced notches each two fiftysixths in arcuate extent, and the lower disc has six pairs of notches, each notch being one fifty-sixth in arcuate extent and being separated from the other notch in the pair by one fiftysixth arcuate extent, and all said pairs except one being separated by six fifty-sixths arcuate extent, and the remaining pair being separated by eight fifty-sixths arcuate extent.

8. A musical indicator according to claim I wherein the window of the information-bearing member has a radical extension over a limited arcuate extent, the upper disc having further apertures alignable with the window extension, and the lower disc having notes indicated thereon so as to be each visible in the window extension through a further aperture in the upper disc, when the information-bearing member and the two discs are in predetermined alignment, to indicate a specific relationship between the key indicated by the two discs and the note visible in the window extension.

9. A musical indicator according to claim 8 wherein said further apertures in the upper disc and the notes on the lower disc lie on two circles of different diameter.

10. A musical indicator including an information-carrying member having musical information adjacent single window means therein, and a note-bearing member having musical notes indicated thereon one above the other in the ascending order of perfect fifths extending from the flat notes upwardly through the seven natural notes to the sharp notes, the notebearing member being linearly movable relative to the information-carrying member so as to present any selected seven adjacent notes only in said single window means, said information-carrying member carrying musical information adjacent the single window means and indicating the relationship between at least two notes of the selected seven shown in the window means. 

1. A musical indicator including an information-carrying member having musical information adjacent window means therein, and a note-bearing member rotatable relative to the information-bearing member and having musical notes indicated thereon so as to be operable to present in said window means any seven selected adjacent notes only from a series of musical notes arranged in the order of perfect fifths extending from the flat notes through the seven natural notes to the sharp notes, the note-bearing member including two superimposed relatively rotatable discs, the upper disc indicating the seven natural notes and having an aperture at each indication, and the lower disc carrying sharp and flat symbols and being rotatable relative to the upper disc to present said symbols in the apertures of the upper disc to indicate various keys, said information-carrying member carrying information indicating the relationship between at least two of the selected seven notes shown in said window means.
 2. A musical indicator according to claim 1 wherein the seven natural notes are alternatively indicated on the upper disc on two circles of different diameter, and the symbols on the lower disc are similarly located on two circles equal in diameter to the circles of the upper disc.
 3. A musical indicator according to claim 1 including means to ensure relative rotation of the two discs by the correct amount to change their indication from one key to another.
 4. A musical indicator according to claim 3 wherein said key-changing means includes notches of predetermined arcuate extent in the peripheries of the discs.
 5. A musical indicator according to claim 4 including means to ensure rotation of the two discs relative to the information-carrying member by the correct amount to change the indicator from one key setting to another.
 6. A musical indicator according to claim 5 wherein said key-changing means includes a notch of predetermined arcuate extent in the information-carrying member, said notch being cooperable with the notches in the discs.
 7. A musical indicator according to claim 6 wherein the notch in the information-bearing member is equivalent to ten fifty-sixths of the circumference of the window, the upper disc has seven equally angularly spaced notches each two fifty-sixths in arcuate extent, and the lower disc has six pairs of notches, each notch being one fifty-sixth in arcuate extent and being separated from the other notch in the pair by one fifty-sixth arcuate extent, and all said pairs except one being separated by six fifty-sixths arcuate extent, and the remaining pair being separated by eight fifty-sixths arcuate extent.
 8. A musical indicator according to claim 1 wherein the window of the information-bearing member has a radical extension over a limited arcuate extent, the upper disc having further apertures alignable with the window Extension, and the lower disc having notes indicated thereon so as to be each visible in the window extension through a further aperture in the upper disc, when the information-bearing member and the two discs are in predetermined alignment, to indicate a specific relationship between the key indicated by the two discs and the note visible in the window extension.
 9. A musical indicator according to claim 8 wherein said further apertures in the upper disc and the notes on the lower disc lie on two circles of different diameter.
 10. A musical indicator including an information-carrying member having musical information adjacent single window means therein, and a note-bearing member having musical notes indicated thereon one above the other in the ascending order of perfect fifths extending from the flat notes upwardly through the seven natural notes to the sharp notes, the note-bearing member being linearly movable relative to the information-carrying member so as to present any selected seven adjacent notes only in said single window means, said information-carrying member carrying musical information adjacent the single window means and indicating the relationship between at least two notes of the selected seven shown in the window means. 